WashingtonWashington directs commercial vehicle fees toward truck safety programs
Washington law provides a truck safety advisory council and directs part of a $32 commercial vehicle fee toward its recommended safety work.
What it does
A council within the Washington traffic safety commission can recommend truck safety programs based on crash trends and driver education. It must meet regularly and report annually to lawmakers.
Owners of covered commercial vehicles must pay a $32 safety fee with their registration application, alongside other fees and taxes. Trailers are exempt, and covered interstate vehicles pay a share.
After administration costs, safety fee revenue is split equally between state patrol highway funding and council-recommended truck safety work. Truck safety account spending requires the commission director’s or a designee’s approval.
Argument forCoordinating crash research and driver training could help trucking companies and state agencies focus safety efforts and avoid duplicate work.
Argument againstThe $32 fee could strain covered vehicle owners’ budgets because they must pay it alongside other required registration fees and taxes.
More detail
The Washington traffic safety commission houses a council that can recommend commercial truck safety programs and projects. The council includes state agencies, trucking representatives, educators, labor, and a member of the public. The council may recommend training, research, contracts, and safety grants; recommendations do not guarantee that projects receive money. The council must first meet by the third Monday in January 2027 and meet at least quarterly. Starting December 31, 2027, it must report the preceding year’s activities, findings, and recommendations to legislative transportation committees by December 31 each year.
Vehicle registration officials must collect a $32 commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee alongside other required fees and taxes. The fee covers Washington-based vehicles subject to state patrol inspections and compliance reviews, plus vehicles based elsewhere under the international registration plan. Trailers are exempt. Interstate vehicles registered under the international registration plan, which covers vehicles traveling across jurisdictions, pay a share of the fee. The fee is not refundable when a vehicle stops being subject to the state inspection law. Registration officials must require payment before accepting the application.
After allowed administration costs, the state splits fee revenue equally between the state patrol highway account and the commercial truck safety and education account. These rules govern safety fee revenue and spending from the commercial truck safety and education account. The truck safety account may pay only for council-recommended truck safety activities and related administration, including commission support for the council. Only the Washington traffic safety commission director or a designee may approve spending. State budget release rules apply, but a separate legislative spending authorization is not required. The council may also accept money and gifts from public and private sources.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 16Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 16Chapter 61, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 16Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 9President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 6Speaker signed.Passed House
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#8). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Mar 2TRAN - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 2:30 PM.
- Feb 19First reading, referred to Transportation.Minor
- Feb 17Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 171st substitute bill substituted (TR 26).Major
- Feb 14Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 9Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 9TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 29Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Transportation.Introduced
TransportationPublic Safety